The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-02-10

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"No, only dutiful.n
Then," said MIRA Aerevale. with An
exultant heart, g il you really mean what
you say, Miss Florella Winton is q young
person of wealth. accomplishment, and
social standingl''
- Cali right" said Walter; "pll 90 and
propose to her At once. Only please
have q list of second and third candi-
dates ready in case Number One says no p
"My dear Walterl
"Irs better to have these things all
straight and ship-shape," said Waiter.
There's nothing like system, even in love-
making"
Miss Florella Winton, however, did
not say "no.' She ssid yes,' and Mrs.
Merevale's heart grew triumphant within
her.
"She will be daughter after my own
heart, " said the old lady. "Dear thing,
l love her already. She is coming up
next week to 60 over the house with me.
1t will be 50 delightfnl to help her plan
Al sher housekeeping arrshgef1ents.
always felt sure that Walter would come
to his senses in time"
Miss Florella Winton came to The
Place. cheery-cheeked, hazel-eyed vii.
lage beauty, dressed after the latest city
fashions, and not devoid of some of the
airs and graces popularity supposed to be-
long to the "girl of the period"
"A jolly old cavern" said she, looking
round the parlor, but too dark. Slash
a window throug gh the north side, Wally,
and turn that turnip patch into q tennis
cOurf 0f oouroo ,or,n
D." My dear Florella," pleaded Mrs. Mere.
vale, 1.-The furniture is very good still,
"Are you going to be the mistress of
the house, or am ?" retorted Florella,
turning short upon the old lady.
"But, Florella, SO long as live
" But you are not going to live here"
with very emphatic nod of the head.
One of my unalterable maxims is,
Don't put up with a mother-in-law.'
Everyone knows that there can't be two
mistresses in house, don't they, Wally ?"
Mrs. Merevale gasped, actually strick-
en- dumb with anger and astonishment.
"And," went on Florella. "there's the
old farm house by the creamery that you
could live in, just as we'll as not. want
the whole of my own house for my own
relations, and mean to have it. I've
asked jolly lot Of young folks down
from New Haven to visit me this autumn
and we don't want any old woman potter
ing around-eh Wally?''
Walter" cried Mrs. Merevale, "do
you stand calmly by, and hear your
mother addressed thus ?'
But Walter, too wise to commit him.
self, only leaned against the fireplace,
with his hands in his pockets, and whis-
tied
Settle it among yourselves" said he.
Suit yourselves, and you'll suit me-"
II will not stay here to be insulted,"
said Mrs. Merevale.
81 amt insulting you," said Florella
with provoking good humor. "Pm only
telling you the truth"
"And my son, who ne-never would
have proposed to you if ha-hadn't ad-
vised him tot"
"That's what old people always say"
observed Florella. "They think the
world would stop wagging around if they
didn't push the wheels"
the room.
I never was spoken to thus in all my
life," she said hysterically. "Dear little
Judith Jay always treated me as if l were
a queen! Oh dear-oh dear! what a
dreadful mistake have made!"
While Walter end Florella, left alone
in the dark wainscotted parlor, looked. at
each other, half awed, half delighted.
"Wasn't horrid ?" said Florella in
whisper.
"Didn't know you could be such
brave little soldier" said Walter in the
same soto Uoce.
"Do you think she has had enough of
it?" said Florella.
should say that-she-had,
very slowly replied Mr.. Merevale.
Half an hour subsequently Walter
found his mother weeping pitfully in her
own room-an elderly Niobe.
"Why, mother, what's the matter ?"
said he.
It's that girl - cried Mrs. Merevale,
spitefully.
"She's the very daughter-in law you
selected for yourself" reasoned Walter
"isn't she?"
"But never suspected that she could
be such dragoness," faltered the poor
old lady. "Oh, why did 1 interfere
What made me suppose that l knew bet
ter than Providence did?"
"Do you think that Judith Jay would
suit you better than Florella, mother ?"
Yes, a thousand times " aaid the un-
wary Mrs. Merevale, clasping her hands
eagerly.
"Well, then, mother, I'll tell you
secret,' said Waluer. "Florella and /
have only been doing little parlor-irama
in one act. We aren't engaged at all.
Florella is to be married in the spring to
Captain Lee"
"And l wish him joy of her p said Mrs.
Merevale with rancor.
"And / shall never marry any body but
Judith JAY" added Walter.
"Judith is at least docile and amiable,"
said Mrs. Merevale.
"But I thought 1 would let you see
how matters would work If you had your
own way about it" said Walter, laugh
ing. "And now, shall / 60 and bring
Judith here ?"
EYES, Walter" said the old lady
meekly.
"As your future daughterin-law 2"
EYES. Walter"
The sua vas just setting o Walter
rushed into the Jay cottage.